Moore County commissioners call Feb. 18 hearings, approve equipment and hauling contract amendments, and ask schools to clarify behavioral-health funding

The Moore County Board of Commissioners at its meeting called public hearings for Feb. 18 to consider three separate amendments to the county Road Name and Addressing Ordinance, approved contract and purchase motions for emergency medical and wastewater services, added a grant-funded position to support a veterans treatment court, and approved a letter asking Moore County Schools to clarify how a roughly $284,000 behavioral-health pass-through is being used.

Why it matters: the actions affect emergency medical equipment procurement, county wastewater operations and budgets, local land use and addressing policy, and how schools deliver in-school mental-health supports after a regional provider changed funding arrangements.

The board first set three public hearings for 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 18 to consider separate amendments to the Moore County Road Name and Addressing Ordinance. Rachel Smith, Moore County GIS coordinator and 9-1-1 addressing administrator, told the board the first hearing would consider removing three road names that are no longer needed—Sanctuary Trail, Norton Court and Panorama Vista—because the preliminary subdivision plat approvals have expired. The second hearing will consider adding three road names (shown on plat cabinet 20, slide 5 16). The third hearing will consider general revisions to the county ordinance; Smith reviewed the ordinance’s origin and its role in supporting enhanced 9-1-1 operations, noting the ordinance dates to July 10, 1989.

The board also voted to call a public hearing for a conditional rezoning request related to a mining/quarry operation at 985 N.C. Highway 211. Planning Director Deborah Williams Winger described a conditional rezoning request for approximately 6.618 acres owned by William Arthur Williams and Jan Harmon Williams to change from Rural Agriculture (RA) to Rural Agricultural Conditional Zoning (RACZ) for a mining quarry operation. Williams said the owner currently operates a mining operation under a 2016 conditional-use permit and is preparing for future phases; she told commissioners the Planning Department’s recommendation was for approval and that the Planning Board had voted 6–0 in favor.

On public-safety procurement, the board approved two related motions to maintain the county’s existing ZOLL monitor/defibrillator system. The public-safety director sought authority to enter a purchase agreement with ZOLL Medical Corporation to buy “95% of utilized equipment, products, [and] accessories” to receive discounted pricing and to authorize the chairman to sign associated documents pending county attorney and finance approval. The board also approved a related sole-source document and authorized the chairman to sign it after attorney and finance review.

Public Works Director Brian Patnode told commissioners that the county has produced larger-than-expected quantities of sludge at the wastewater treatment plant and presently uses drying beds that must be turned over to meet state guidelines. To maintain hauling while the county addresses capacity, the board approved Amendment No. 1 to its hauling contract with Hot Rock Haulers LLC (doing business as AJ Transport Services LLC), increasing the contract by $60,940 (from $150,000 to $210,940) for the remainder of the fiscal year. The board also approved a related Amendment No. 1 with Chambers Development of North Carolina (doing business as Anson County Landfill) to accept an estimated additional 2,000 tons, increasing that agreement by $54,720 (from $136,800 to $191,520) for fiscal year 2024–25. Commissioners asked staff to examine whether the county should consider acquiring its own transport capability or expanding drying-bed capacity to avoid repeated hauling costs.

In new business related to behavioral health in schools, the board approved a letter to Moore County Schools requesting clarification about how about $284,000 in behavioral-health support funding—previously passed through by Sandhills Mental Health/previous LME/MCO—was incorporated into the schools’ budget after Trillium took over the region and discontinued the pass-through. Commissioners raised concerns that services previously provided by three licensed behavioral-health therapists stationed in high schools had shifted: Superintendent Dr. Locklear said the district still employs two of the three licensed therapists but that staffing roles were absorbed into the district’s social-work and student-support structure after earmarked funding ended. Dr. Locklear told the board, “I can tell you that we are we will continue to be transparent with every penny that’s invested in our school district and the kids of Moore County…so I can assure you, there is no double dipping, so to speak.” The board approved the letter and authorized the chair to sign it.

The board also moved forward on the veterans treatment court project. Staff reported a three-year grant award totaling $900,000 to support a veterans treatment court. After discussing the administrative and staffing options, the board voted to add one full-time, grant-funded position to the county’s pay and classification plan in administration (to be covered under the county’s special classifications category and identified as a grant-funded position). The board directed staff to finalize the memorandum of agreement with the Veterans Treatment Court Board to clarify selection, oversight and office location; the position will be grant dependent and subject to renewal or availability of funds.

Commissioners discussed uncertainty at the federal level and early reports of federal cuts to regional agencies. Commissioner Tom Adams read a letter from Lee Worlesley, chief executive of the Central Pines Regional Council, noting the council has already had to eliminate at least one position due to federal reductions. Commissioners asked county staff to compile information on services and funding the county receives from regional entities such as Central Pines and Mid-Carolina, and on how much federal funding flows through county budgets, so the board can assess exposure as it approaches budget planning.

On appointments, the board reappointed Steven Lader to the Trillium Health Resources Board and named Commissioner James Longcannon as the county’s Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) representative with Commissioner Tom Adams as alternate.

Finally, the board voted to enter closed session under the attorney-client privilege exception to discuss litigation (listed in the motion as County Amor v. 3ms, et al., case number 2:23-cv-04184 RMG) and other legal matters pursuant to the statute referenced in the motion.

Votes at a glance

- Call public hearing (Feb. 18, 2025, 5:30 p.m.) — Remove three road names (Sanctuary Trail, Norton Court, Panorama Vista): motion passed. - Call public hearing (Feb. 18, 2025, 5:30 p.m.) — Add three road names (plat cabinet 20, slide 5 16): motion passed. - Call public hearing (Feb. 18, 2025, 5:30 p.m.) — General revisions to the Moore County Road Name and Addressing Ordinance: motion passed. - Call public hearing (Feb. 18, 2025) — Conditional rezoning request (approx. 6.618 acres) at 985 N.C. Highway 211 from RA to RACZ for a mining/quarry operation: motion passed; Planning Board recommendation: 6–0. - Enter purchase agreement with ZOLL Medical Corporation for 95% of utilized equipment and accessories; authorize chair to sign pending attorney/finance approval: motion passed. - Approve sole-source document authorizing chair to sign upon county attorney and finance office approval: motion passed. - Approve letter to Moore County Schools requesting clarification on mental-health/substance-abuse/developmental support funding and authorize chair to sign: motion passed. - Add one full-time, grant-funded position in administration for the Veterans Treatment Court (special classifications, grant funded): motion passed. - Approve Amendment No. 1 with Hot Rock Haulers LLC (d/b/a AJ Transport Services LLC), increasing the contract by $60,940 (from $150,000 to $210,940) for sludge hauling: motion passed. - Approve Amendment No. 1 with Chambers Development of North Carolina (d/b/a Anson County Landfill), increasing the contract by $54,720 (from $136,800 to $191,520) for additional landfill tonnage: motion passed. - Reappoint Steven Lader to the Trillium Health Resources Board: motion passed. - Appoint Commissioner James Longcannon to RTAC (primary) and Commissioner Tom Adams as alternate: motions passed. - Motion to enter closed session under attorney-client privilege (litigation referenced): motion passed; board entered closed session.

What’s next: staff will publish the formal Feb. 18 public-hearing notices, finalize contract documentation for the ZOLL purchase and the hauling/landfill amendments, work with Moore County Schools to get the requested budget and staffing clarifications, and proceed with hiring and memorandum-of-agreement steps for the grant-funded veterans treatment court position. The manager’s office will also provide the board with an inventory of federal funding sources and the county’s relationships with regional councils for follow-up during budget planning.